保健師学生の関わりからみたB地区自主防災活動の課題

B地区における8年間の保健師学生の防災活動の取り組みについて分析し、地域の自主防災活動の課題を明らかにした。①学生が作成した既存資料等の分析、②防災対策関係者と学生の意見交換、③2町内における防災講習会の実施と自主防災活動への意識調査、④防災対策関係者への聞き取り調査を行った。その結果、①リーダーの積極的かつ先駆的な働きかけのもとに、町内単位やコミュニティセンター活動を活かして自主防災活動の啓発を行う。②時間の経過とともに防災意識が薄れる中で学生が継続的に介入し、地域の防災行動の普及・啓発を図る。③専門職や他地区の自主防災組織等と連携、協働の上、自主防災組織の繋がりをさらに強化する

An autopsy case of acute poisoning via ingestion of hydrofluoric acid

We herein report an autopsy case of acute poisoning via ingestion of hydrofluoric (HF) acid. HF acid is an aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride and is an extremely strong inorganic acid. A 69-year-old woman was found dead in her bathroom at home. There was a bottle of HF acid and an empty cup in the kitchen. Autopsy findings revealed white erosions on the surface of the oral and esophageal mucosae. The gastroduodenal mucosa was black and extensively corroded. The stomach contained 100 mL of black mud-like substance with an irritating odor. To prove oral ingestion of HF acid, we analyzed the fluoride content of the dissection materials using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Consequently, fluoride was detected in femoral venous blood (69.7 mg/L) and in the stomach (348.8 mg/L). The fluoride content was considered extremely high; therefore, it was concluded that the deceased ingested a corrosive poisonous substance

Stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized (Z)-chloroalkene dipeptide isosteres containing an α,α-disubstituted amino acid

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Safe and Effective Delivery of Small Interfering RNA with Polymer- and Liposomes-Based Complexes

We developed binary and ternary complexes based on polymers and liposomes for safe and effective delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA). Anti-luciferase siRNA was used as a model of nucleic acid medicine. The binary complexes of siRNA were prepared with cationic polymers and cationic liposomes such as polyethylenimine (PEI), polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer, poly-L-arginine (PLA), trimethyl[2,3-(dioleoxy)-propyl]ammonium chloride (DOTMA), and cholesteryl 3β-N-(dimetylaminnoethyl)carbamate hydrochloride (DC-Chol). The ternary complexes were constructed by the addition of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) to the binary complexes. The complexes were approximately 54-153 nm in particle size. The binary complexes showed a cationic surface charge although an anionic surface charge was observed in the ternary complexes. The polymer-based complexes did not show a silencing effect in the mouse colon carcinoma cell line expressing luciferase regularly (Colon26/Luc cells). The binary complexes based on liposomes and their ternary complexes coated by γ-PGA showed a significant silencing effect. The binary complexes showed significant cytotoxicity although the ternary complexes coated by γ-PGA did not show significant cytotoxicity. The ternary complexes coated by γ-PGA suppressed luciferase activity in the tumor after their direct injection into the tumors of mice bearing Colon26/Luc cells. Thus, we have newly identified safe and efficient ternary complexes of siRNA for clinical use

Design and synthesis of strong root gravitropism inhibitors with no concomitant growth inhibition

Abstract Herein, we describe a highly potent gravitropic bending inhibitor with no concomitant growth inhibition. Previously, we reported that (2Z,4E)-5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid (ku-76) selectively inhibits root gravitropic bending of lettuce radicles at 5 μM. Based on the structure–activity relationship study of ku-76 as a lead compound, we designed and synthesized various C4-substituted analogs of ku-76. Among the analogs, 4-phenylethynyl analog exhibited the highest potency for gravitropic bending inhibition, which was effective at only 0.01 μM. Remarkably, 4-phenylethynyl analog is much more potent than the known inhibitor, NPA. Substitution in the para position on the aromatic ring of 4-phenylethynyl group was tolerated without diminished activity. In addition, evaluation using Arabidopsis indicated that 4-phenylethynyl analog inhibits gravitropism by affecting auxin distribution in the root tips. Based on the effects on Arabidopsis phenotypes, 4-phenylethynyl analog may be a novel inhibitor that differs in action from the previously reported auxin transport inhibitors